Set of Six Danish Mid-century Kai Kristiansen Carver Dining Chairs

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Set of Six Danish Mid-century Kai Kristiansen Carver Dining Chairs

About the Item

Born in 1929 Kristiansen is often lauded as one of the iconic Danish mid-century designers. Like many of the great Danish designers of the time he apprenticed in cabinetmaking and after studying under Kaare Klint at the prestigious Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen he opened his own studio at the age of 26. He began to create a range of furniture including dining sets, desks, lounge chairs and the FM Reol wall unit system in what would became known as the Danish Mid-Century Modern style to International acclaim. He favoured teak and rosewood and his work often detailed complex joining methods that made them difficult and expensive to produce; which naturally meant they were rarely produced in great numbers. As such he has become one of the most sought after and collectable designers of the 20th Century and quite rightly enjoys great critical acclaim. These carver dining arm chairs echo his classic 'Paper Knife' range with sweeping arms, detailed jointing work and beautifully figured wood – the frames are in very good vintage condition. This design also offers a practical benefit as the taper of the arms allows them to be pushed under most dining tables to save space. They feature the original upholstery, which naturally shows some wear given the set is over 50 years old. They are however in a very useable condition but IMO would benefit from some new upholstery that you could match to your décor – they have therefore been priced with this in mind. Each chair also features the designer’s mark underneath.

Creator:
Korup Stolefabrik (Manufacturer),Kai Kristiansen (Designer)
Dimensions:
Height: 31.89 in (81 cm)Width: 20.87 in (53 cm)Depth: 21.66 in (55 cm)Seat Height: 17.72 in (45 cm)
Sold As:
Set of 6
Style:
Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Fabric,Wood
Place of Origin:
Denmark
Period:
1960-1969
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1960s
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Newbury, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: KK chairs 11stDibs: LU283538981591

Shop All Kai Kristiansen

Kai Kristiansen

With a passion for math and engineering, Kai Kristiansen has created high-quality wood furniture for decades. Beginning in the 1950s, his chairs, modular shelving and other furnishings were made in the style that would become internationally renowned as Danish modern and boasted clean lines, perfected functionality and exacting craftsmanship.

Born in Denmark, Kristiansen trained in cabinetmaking before studying with Kaare Klint, often cited as the “father of modern Danish design,” at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen. At just 26 years old, Kristiansen opened his own studio.

Kristiansen had his mid-century breakthrough in 1956 with the Chair #42, which he made with Schou Andersen. Unlike most other chairs at the time, Chair #42’s armrests, with their wealth of radical angles, were connected to the back rather than the front legs. This unconventional flourish makes the backrest appear as though it is floating in midair above the seat. Kristiansen’s next innovation was a modular wall system in 1957 — three years ahead of Dieter Rams’s more famous 606 Universal Shelving System. Called the Reolsystem Wall Unit, produced by SB Feldballes Møbelfabrik, it’s also known as the FM Wall Unit as FM/Fornem Møbelkunst began producing it in the 1960s. Kristiansen would go on to work with other leading Danish furniture manufacturers such as Magnus Olesen, Fritz Hansen and Vildbjerg Møbelfabrik, designing everything from chairs and desks to sideboards and cabinets, frequently in rosewood and teak. (The latter was a sought-after wood by Scandinavian modern designers.)

While many of Kristiansen’s timeless designs remain in production, such as his Paper Knife sofa, which was reintroduced by Miyazaki Chair Factory in 2008, and his 1950s Entré collection, which was relaunched with Great Dane Furniture in 2016, others are prized as vintage mid-century pieces. Today, Kristiansen is still at work on new furniture with an expert eye to thoughtfully functional designs that are made to last.

Find a collection of vintage Kai Kristiansen furniture on 1stDibs.